Key action for typewriters and other machines



July 23, 1929. o. u. DESHA KEY ACTION FOR TYPEWRITERS AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 5 l 'yI,

\ 9 j a /w zfl- July 23, 1929. o. u. DESHA 1,721,857

KEY {\CTION FOR TYPEWRITERS AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 23, 1929.

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ORVILLE U. DESHA, OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TO THE DESHA. TYPELEX TRUST ESTATE, OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO.

KEY ACTION FOB. TYPEWRITERS AND OTHER MACHINES.

Application filed March 24, 1927.

My invention relates to improvement in key-action for typewriters and other type bar and key operating machines, actuating means at all times operatively connecting the type bar and key lever moving the type bar to printing point upon the depression of the key lever and means reversely breaking the said connection after the printing impact of the type bar for the return of the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in de pressed position, this broad object being the subject matter of an application filed by me on November 5th, 1923, Serial No. 672,871, upon which Patent lbs-3,203 issued Sept. 20, 1927, as a contradistinction between previous devices comprises a detachable connection or gap at some point between the key lever and type bar after the latter has been given the movement necessary to effect the printing and before the key lever has completed its movement.

The specific object of the present invention is to provide improved means of the character specified above whereby the reversely breaking actuating connection between the key lever and the type bar is in the nature of a structure that may readily be incorporated in certain typewriting machines with only slight modification of the structural features of said machines as they now exist.

I have shown my invention embodied, in the present instance, in a typewriter simliar to the Royal standard machine, and in which the invention may be readily incoporated by slight modification of the structural features of the machine in efiecting such incorporation. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to use in a machine of this type, but may be employed wherever found available.

The desired principle of operation, new mechanical functions, operative expedients, and other objects and advantages will hereinafter be described in the following disclosure and will be more particularly pointed out in the appending claims. In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the various views.

' In the drawing Figure I, is a vertical section of a typewriter, one key-action only being shown in normal position; Fig. II, represents a view of the key mechanism similar to Fig. I, the key lever being shown de- Serial No. 178,086.

pressed and responding the type bar. Fig. IILalso key-mechanism similar to Fig. I, the key lever being shown in a depressed position; and the type bar returned to its initial position. Fig. IV is a skeleton view of the key-mechanism forillustrative purposes in describing the mode of operation of the machine shown. It is understood, of course, that for the sake of clearness and to avoid complication of drawings the applicant has omitted to show the remainder of the several banks of key levers and corresponding type bars as well as other devices necessary or advisable in the complete ma." chine.

y In the embodiment in Fig. I, 1 indicates the frame of a typewriter, 1 indicating the front and 1 the rear, having a common power driving paper carriage 2 supported in the rear on guide rod 3 and in front on guide rod 4; 5 indicates the common platen carried by the paper carriage 2; 6 indicates one of the type bars carrying the type 7 at its front end, and having the usual pivotal connection 8 at the heel of the rear end, and is arranged to turn on pivot 9 in the form of a segment disposed vertically below the front face of the plate 10 thereby providing the type 7 with a common printing point A. as the type bar 6 turns on pivot 9 from normal horizontal position of rest on the segment 11 in the usual manner.

12 indicates one of the key levers carrying at the front end finger key 18, the rear end pivoted at 14 to bar 14 in the rear of the machine, and is kept normally in its elevated position by spring 15 supported by bar 15 at normal rest the key lever bearing against the underside of stop bar 15 above the key lever 12. The contractive energy of spring 15 elevates the key lever 12 upon the release of the depression of the latter thereby restoring the reversely breaking actuating coupling, hereinafter described, to normal operative position. Kev lever 12 is formed with an upward appending arm 16, and arranged to provide saddle backed seat 17 for the reversely breaking actuating coupling hereinafter described.

The key lever 12 is described as having two incidents of operation, namely; the incident of depression and the incident of release. The incident of depression is disclosed by the movement of key lever 12 from radius B to radius C, and the incident of release is disclosed rinses? by the movement of the key lever 12 back from radius G to radius B. The type bar 6 is described as having two incidents of operation, namely; incident of response and the in: cident of recoil. The incident of response of the type bar 6 is disclosed by the movement of the type bar from its initial rest rad1us E to the printing point A, indicated by radius F forming arc G from pivot 9. The incident of recoil of type bar ,6 is disclosed by 1ts movement from the printing point A back to normal rest E. These incidents of operation are, of course, present in nonreversely breaking type bar actions in so far as the incident of response, E to A, of the type bar 6 already known to the art occurs simultaneously with the incident of depression, B to G, of the key lever 12, and the incident of recoil, A to B, of the type bar occurs simultaneously with the incident of release, C to B, of the key lever, but the novelty of my invention relates to the correlation of incidents of operation of the key lever with that of the type bar in providing the operative expedient by which both the incident of response, E to A, of the type bar and the incident of recoil, A to E, occur during the one incident of depression, B to C, of the key lever. This operative expedient is accomplished in this case, by a novel reversely breaking actuating coupling being the principal subject matter of this application, constituting the parts connecting the key lever with the type bar, hereinafter described.

18 indicates one of a series of angular vibratory levers, with front vertex 18 and rear vertex 18 the part between said angles being horizontal; part below angle 18 being perpendicular to key lever 12; part above angle 18 slanting forward. Said vibratory levers 18 corresponding in number with the type bars 6 and key levers 12. Lower ends of vi br-atory levers 18 are pivoted at 19 in a bar 20 extending across the machine.

22 is a forward draw link and 23 is a forward thrust link of what is hereinafter described as a reversely breaking actuating coupling which connects the type bar with the key lever by means of said angular vibratory lever 18 and forward pull link 21. The forward draw link 22 is pivot-ed at intermediately of its end to the rear angle 18 intermediately the ends of the vibratory lever 18, and near the front end the forward draw link 22 is pivoted at 24 to the front end of the forward thrust link 23, the rear end of the for ward thrust link 23 being pivoted at 26 to the upwardly appending arm 16 provided by the key lever 12 intermediately the ends of the latter.

The relative normal positionsof pivots 24, 25 and 26 are engaged in alignment approximately horizontal to the key lever 12, whereby the coupling is disclosed to be substantially horizontally disposed. It will be observed that the forward draw link 22'and forward thrust link 23 constituting the reversely breaking actuating coupling operate in a plane substantially parallel to the key lever, thereby disclosing the reversely breaking actuating coupling to be disposed parallel. Also it will be noted that link 22 operates in front of the vibratory lever 18 and cross bar 20which discloses the reversely breaking actuating coupling to be frontly engaged.

27 is a return spring engaging hole 27 in the rear end of the forward draw link 22 and the other end engaging hole 27 in the edge of plate 27 extending across the rear of the machine, which spring serves to hold thrust link 22 in tension lock and to vibrate lever 18 normally in position shown in Fig. I, and to return it and the type bar 6 to normal position E after operation. Pivot pin 24 is cocentric of the rounded end 28 of draw link 22 and is designated as an eccentric fulcrumtrip. As draw link 22 turns on pivot 24 the eccentric part thereof cooperates with the saddle-backed seat 17 provided by key lever 12 in assisting the breaking reversely of said coupling.

While the forward draw links 22 and forward thrust link 23 are operating under tension lock, spring 27 is drawn to high tension, and then at this stage the energy is diverted to the recoil of the type bar as thrust link 23 lis tripped out of tension lock, thereby attaining the operative expedient by which energy stored in responding the type bar is diverted to its recoil.

The new mechanical movements and operation thereof are the important factors of the invention in providing the function of the key action. A further description of the operative principle, therefore, follows: The geometric circle H H, Fig. IV, with a diametrical line J J from the forward border pivot 24 to the backward border pivot 25 circumscribes what is termed the actuating plane. The diametrical line J J from the forward border pivot 24 to the backward border pivot 25 indicates the divert tension line and divides the actuating plane into the. zone of response K and the zone of reactionL; the zone of response K having to do with the response of the type bar 6 from radius E to radius F while key lever 12 is being depressed from radius B to radius D; and the zone of reaction L having to do with the recoil of the type bar 6 I from the printing point A to radius E at rest while the key lever 12 is being continually depressed from radius D to radius C of depression. forward thrust link 23 operates in the zone of response K as shown in Figs. I, II and IV. It is necessary that the forward draw link 22 be of such length between the forward border pivot 24 and the backward border pivot 25 and be in such form and so engaged in such fashion as to permit the interior pivotal point 26 to oscillate between the forward border lUU The normal or idle position of the I pivot 24 and the backward border pivot 25 in crossing and recrossing the divertable tension line J J. The forward draw link therefore, is designated as the long link of the reversely breaking actuating coupling, and forward thrust 23 is the short link. The form of the long draw link 22 is disclosed by its rear part being straight and parallel with the horizontal part of the vibratory levers between angles 18 and 18". The front part of theforward draw link 22 being curved upward, the interior pivotal point 26 operates within the lower concavity of said draw link 22. In this case, the elements 22 and 23 of the reversely breaking actuating coupling are folded during the incident of depression from radius B to radius D of the key lever 12 and simultaneously with the incident of response of type bar 6 from radius E to printing point A; and the link fold elements 22 and 23 unfold during the remainder of depression, radius D to radius C of key lever 12 simultaneously with the recoil of type bar 6 from the printing point A back to radius E. The saddle-backed seat 17 provided by the key lever 12 communicating with the eccentric end of link 22 limits the free downward movement of the forward border pivotal point 24 and eflects responsive tension lock of the forward thrust link 23 under influence of return spring 27 as the key lever 12 is being depressed from radius B to radius D. This tension lock of the forward thrust 23 is also described as contractive tension lock or forward thrust meaning that while key lever 12 is being depressed the energy required to respond the type bar 6 effects contractive pressure or forward thrust from the interior pivot 26 to the forward border pivot 24 instead of expansive tension or pull. The contractive tension of the forward thrust link 23 stops its oscillation and is moved bodily downward with the key lever 12, as shown in Fig. II, as the angular vibratory lever 18 moves the rear end of divert tension line J J upward until the interior pivot 26 crosses the divert tension line J J into the lower zone of reaction of L. Simultaneously with contractive tension lock of the forward thrust link 23, the forward draw link 22 operates under expansive tension or pull between the forward border pivot 24 and the backward border pivot 25 while the key lever 12 is being depressed from radius B to radius D to respond the type bar 6 from radius E to printing point A, and the expansive tension of the forward draw link 22 being relaxed While the key lever 12 continues the incident of depression from radius D to radius C and simultaneously with the recoil of the type bar 6 from the printing point A back to radius of rest E.

A change in correlative position of the forward border pivot 24 and the backward border pivot 25 in the actuating plane carries the interior pivot 26 within the zone of reaction L thereby releasing the contractive tension lock of the forward thrust link 23. The release of contractive tension lock of the forward thrust link 23 permits it to resume oscillation about the time the type 7 impacts the printing point A. When the forward trust link 23 resumes oscillation, there being no further obstruction to the recoil of type bar 6, it immediately recoils from A to E while the key lever 12 continues its incident of depression from D to C and contacting with rod 30. The tri-pivotal relationship of the forward border pivot 24, the backward border pivot 25 and the interior pivot 26 is necessary to effect the essential operative expedient of the invention as means breaking reversely said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar for the return of the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position. Dotted line M M, Fig. I shows where the tri-pivotal relationship forms obtuse angle at the interior pivot 26 pointing substantially upward during normal position and effecting response of the type 6 during depression of key lever 12. Dotted line M M,.Fig. II shows the alignment of the tri-pivotal relationship at the time the type bar 6 completes its response and begins to recoil. Dotted line M M, Fig.

III shows the obtuse angle at the interior pivot 26 formed by the tri-pivotal relationship pointed downward as the type bar recoils.

In a type key action of the character described, it is desirable that the key lever 12 should have a short stroke or reach, that is the incident of depression B to C of the key lever be relatively shorter in length, at the same time actuating a fullincident of response E to A of the type bar 6 as a contradistinction between the usual long stroke of a key lever. The short stroke of the key lever in the present case is accomplished in the following manner: Thev forward end of the thrust link 23 is provided with a pin and 7 slot connection to the forward draw link at the forward border pivot 24. This pin and slot connection at pivot 24 permits momentum to carry the type bar 6 relatively faster than its corresponding key lever causing elongation of said coupling allowing the type bar to complete its incident of response E to A before the key lever has had time to complete its incident of depression B to C. By the operative expedient of elongating said reversely breaking actuating coupling upon depression of the key lever 12, therefore the type bar 6 of the present invention may be operated with about three-eighths of an inch to one-half of an inch stroke of finger key 13 contrasted with the usual five-eighths of an inch.

It should be understood, that the present improvement is capable of a large range of modification within the scope of the invention, and variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

1 What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a rear angle vertex provided by said vibratory lover, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a reversely breaking actuating coupling for wardly disposed in a plane above the key lever operatively connecting the rear angle vertex of said vibratory lever and key lever for actuating the vibratory lever and forward thrust link forwardly moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact to return the vibratory lever forward thrust link and type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

2. In a type key action, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end a rear angle vertex provided by said vibratory lever, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling having the elements in folded relation operatively connect-- ing the key lever and a rear angle vertex of said vibratory lever, the elements of said coupling actuating the vibratory and forward thrust link forwardly moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means unfolding said elements reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar returning the vibratory lever, forward thrust link and type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring the unfolded elements of said coupling to normal operative foldment upon the release of the key lever.

8. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end and disposed vertically and vibrating forwardly, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a rear angle vertex provided by the vibratory lever intermediately the ends of the latter, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever at the vertex angle of the vibratory lever actuating the vibratory lever and for ward thrust link forwardly moving the type bar to the printing point upon depression of the key lever,means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar for returning the vibratory lever, for-' Ward thrust link and type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

4:. In a type key action, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end,a rear angle vertex provided by the vibratory lever, a forward, pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever comprising a forward thrust link and a forward draw link pivoted intermediately of its ends to the rear angle vertex of the vibratory lever and operatively connecting the vibratory lever and forward thrust link for actuating the vibratory lever and forward thrust'link forwardly moving the type bar to the printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar, means returning the vibratory lever, forward thrust link and the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

5. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, an

angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end a rear angle vertex provided by said vibratory lever intermediately the ends of the latter, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the rear angle vertex of vibratory lever and key lever comprising a forward draw link and a forward thrust link connecting the key lever and draw link actuating forward thrust upon the latter for movin the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar for returning the vibratory lever, forward thrust link and the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

6. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end a rear angle vertex provided by said vibratory lever, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the rear angle vertex of said vibratory lever and key lever comprising a forward thrust link and a forward draw link relatively long and short in length moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar for returning the vibratorylever, forward thrust'link and the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

7 In a type key action and mechanism, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end a rear angle vertex provided by said vibratory lever, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, an upward appending arm provided by said key lever intermediately the ends of the latter, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and rear angle vertex of said vibratory lever comprising a forward draw link and a forward thrust link-the rear end thereof pivoted to said upward appending arm of the key lever and front end pivoted to the forward end of said draw link actuating the vibratory lever, and forward thrust link forwardly moving the type bar to the printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar returning the vibratory lever forward thrust link and type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

8. In a type key act-ion and mechanism, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end a rear angle vertex provided by said vibratory lever, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever providing an upward appending arm intermediately of its ends, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and rear angle vertex of said vibratory lever compris ing a forward thrust link and a forward draw link actuating the vibratory lever and forward thrust link forwardly moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, a saddle-backed seat provided by said key lever in front of said upward appending arm, an eccentric fulcrum trip provided by the front end of said forward draw link extending forwardly and communicating with the saddle-backed seat reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar for returning the vibratory lever, forward thrust link and type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said eccentric fulcrum trip to normal operative position on said saddle-backed seat upon release of the key lever.

9. In a mechanism and action for a typekey, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a rear angle vertex provided by said vibratory lever a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and rear angle vertex of said vibratory lever comprising a forward draw link and a forward thrust link actuating the vibratory lever and forward thrust link forwardly moving the type bar to printing point upon depres sion of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, a return spring horizontally disposed above the key lever and its front end supported by the rear end of the backward draw link, a cross bar in rear of the machine supporting the rear end of said return spring-the contracting energy of said spring returning the vibratory lever, forward thrust link and type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said mechanism to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

10. In a key action for a typewriting machine, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end a rear angle vertex n-ovided by said vibratory lever, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and rear angle vertex of said vibratory lever for actuating the vibratory lever and forward thrust link forwardly moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar to return the vibratory lever, forward thrust link and type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, a pull spring in the rear of the machine above the key levercontraction of said spring actuating the key lever to its normal elevated position thereby restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

11. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a re versely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever comprising a forward draw link and a forward thrust link moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, a pivot bar for lower end of said vibratory lever extending across the machine rearwardly of said vibratory lever cooperating with the lower rear edge of the forward draw link restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

12. In a type key action and mechanism, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a. key lever pivoted at its rear end, a

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pivot connecting the vibratory lever and draw link intermediately of their respective ends, a forward border pivot connecting the draw link and thrust link, an interior pivot above a line drawn through the border pivots for connecting the thrust link and key lever moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means actuating the interior pivot downward across a divert tension line between the forward border pivot and the backward border pivot reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar for returning the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

13. In a type key mechanism and action, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a forward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever-means permitting operative elongation of said coupling for moving the type bar to the printing point upon a relatively short den72ns57 pressiou stroke of the key lever, means reversely breaking; said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar for returning the type bar to normal position while key and vibratory lever comprising a forward I draw link and a forward thrust link, a slidable pin and slot pivotedly connecting said draw link and thrust link permitting operative elongation of said coupling for moving the type bar to printing point upon a relatively short depression stroke of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar for returning the latter to normal position while key lever in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

Signed at Fort Collins, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, this 13th day of April, A. D. 1927.

ORVILLE U. DESI-TA, 

